"A Labor Of Love": A Social And Literary History Of The Blue Cloud Quarterly

Abstract

This thesis will explore the literary and historical context of a small magazine publication entitled the Blue Cloud Quarterly. The first publication of its kind to focus entirely on Native American poetry, the BCQ played a significant role in shifting the canon of American literature towards diverse voices and experiences. Contemporary scholars have largely overlooked the publication's critical contribution, but its influence on the Native American literary resurgence of the late 20th century was profound.The BCQ was published during a time of intense change in the Roman Catholic Church both on a global and local level among the Native American communities of the Dakotas. After influence of these changes on the publication has been discussed, this research project will also be addressing some of the challenges and criticisms received by the editor of the BCQ, Br. Benet Tvedten, OSB. Close readings and literary analysis of various issues of the BCQ will serve to establish the significant role played by the BCQ in sharing with a large audience the experience of American Indian people in their own words. Examples provided include the work of students, prisoners, and women writers.The thesis concludes by asserting that the influence and significance of the BCQ is an important field of study that is rich for further investigation. The primary modes of research for this study were first person interviews and archival work, which serves as further evidence of the need for greater research in this area.